Baltimore police said they've arrested the father of a 5-year-old girl and charged him in her beating death.Police said the investigation began after they received a call after 11 p.m. Monday from the 3400 block of Calloway Avenue in northwest Baltimore.The girl, identified as Mya Carr, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
The death was initially labeled suspicious, but was later classified as a homicide. The girl's father, 22-year-old Matthew Carr, was arrested on Wednesday."It was painfully obvious to the medical teams at Sinai Hospital that she had suffered multiple body traumas," said Detective Donny Moses. "She had fractures in her face and bruises all up and down her body. It is a horrific thing, and no child should have to go through something like that."Detectives said Matthew Carr was the only person at home with the girl at the time. According to court documents, he appeared to have been drinking and "admitted to beating his child repeatedly with his hands" all over her body."He basically said she had a bowel movement on herself, so he got angry and he beat her," Moses said. Matthew Carr is in custody facing multiple charges including first-degree murder, assault and child abuse.Detectives said they believe this wasn't the first time the little girl met with violence."In looking at her doctors' records, we determined a lot of her injuries were old. So, at some point she'd been beaten in the past. We do feel like she'd been suffering," Moses said.Neighbors who watched Mya play when she visited her dad were saddened to learn she had died. A small memorial was put up on the porch of the home on Wednesday."She was a polite little girl. She had manners and everything," said neighbor Stranjay Whitley. "How could you be that cruel to beat a little girl?""It's heartbreaking. Devastating," said neighbor Charles Rawlings. "I wouldn't do that to a dog or a cat, much less a human being."

BALTIMORE —

Baltimore police said they've arrested the father of a 5-year-old girl and charged him in her beating death.

Police said the investigation began after they received a call after 11 p.m. Monday from the 3400 block of Calloway Avenue in northwest Baltimore.

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The girl, identified as Mya Carr, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.

The death was initially labeled suspicious, but was later classified as a homicide. The girl's father, 22-year-old Matthew Carr, was arrested on Wednesday.

"It was painfully obvious to the medical teams at Sinai Hospital that she had suffered multiple body traumas," said Detective Donny Moses. "She had fractures in her face and bruises all up and down her body. It is a horrific thing, and no child should have to go through something like that."

Detectives said Matthew Carr was the only person at home with the girl at the time. According to court documents, he appeared to have been drinking and "admitted to beating his child repeatedly with his hands" all over her body.

"He basically said she had a bowel movement on herself, so he got angry and he beat her," Moses said.